Bachelor of Media and Communication
Our next gen Bachelor of Media and Communication has been designed to anticipate industry changes before they become the norm, preparing our students for the industry roles on the horizon.
Bachelor of Media and Communication changes
Emerging technologies and novel issues are reshaping the media and communication landscape. To ensure that all Swinburne students graduate with industry-leading knowledge and skills, it’s important that our courses cover innovative methods before they become industry standards.
What are the changes?
The structural changes to the Bachelor of Media and Communication mean that new units are being developed while other units are changing or being discontinued.
Units that are being discontinued will have their final offering between Semester 1 2024 and Semester 2 2025.
The unit changes may affect the major(s) you have nominated as part of your degree.
We currently offer 10 majors under the Bachelor of Media and Communication, these are being reconfigured into seven (7) new majors. Table 1 illustrates how the current majors and new majors are aligned.
| Current major | New major |
|---|---|
| Creative Writing and Literature | Creative Writing and Publishing |
| Professional Writing and Editing | |
| Cinema and Screen Studies | Cinema and Screen Studies |
| Journalism | Journalism |
| Media Industries | Discontinued |
| Social Media | Social Media |
| Public Relations | Public Relations |
| Advertising | Advertising |
| Digital Advertising Technology | |
| Games and Interactivity | Discontinued |
| Immersive Media |
Which units are affected?
Core units
Core unit COM10007 Professional Communication Practice will be replaced by MDA10012 Communicating with Data, offered for the first time in Semester 1, 2024. COM10007 will continue to be taught as part of the of Public Relations major.
Core unit JOU10007 Media Content Creation will be last offered in Semester 1, 2023. You can enrol in the replacement unit MDA10018 Content Creator Lab from Semester 2, 2023.
Major units
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| MDA20018 | Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific | Title change to Popular Culture of Asia. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| MDA10006 | Innovation Cultures: Perspectives on Science and Technology | Replaced by MDA10015 - Social Media Strategy. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2023. |
| MDA20003 | Networked Selves | Last offering of this unit is Semester 2, 2024. |
| MDA20009 | Digital Communities | Replaced by MDA10013 - Digital Communities, Digital Selves. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 1, 2023. |
| MDA20011 | Sports/Advertising/Media | Last offering of this unit is Semester 1, 2024. |
| MDA20025 | National Media in A Globalised World | Last offering of this unit is Semester 1, 2024. |
| MDA30007 | Media and Communications Project B | Replaced by MDA30021 - Social Media Industry Project. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2023. |
| MDA30012 | Researching Social Media Publics | No change. |
| MDA30017 | Media Analytics and Visualisation | Last offering of this unit is Semester 1, 2024. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| PUB30003 | Public Relations Project and Campaign Planning | Replaced by PUB30004 - PR Campaign Planning and Management. |
| MDA30006 | Media and Communications Project A | Replaced by MDA30020 - Media and Communications Industry Project. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| JOU10004 | News Writing | Replaced by JOU10004 - Transforming Journalism in the Digital Era. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 1, 2023. |
| JOU10008 | Journalism Features | Replaced by JOU10008 - The Journalist's Toolkit. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2023. |
| JOU20002 | Reporting Public Forums | Replaced by JOU20007 - Interactive Storytelling. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 1, 2024. |
| JOU20004 | Broadcast News Reporting | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2024. |
| JOU30001 | Investigative Journalism | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2024. |
| JOU30009 | Video Project | Title change to Video Documentary Project. |
| JOU30011 | Specialist Reporting | Replaced by JOU30012 - Live Journalism Lab. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2024. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| ADV20001 | Advertising Issues: Regulation Ethics and Cultural Considerations | Replaced by ADV20004 - Advertising Issues and Impact. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 1, 2024. |
| ADV20002 | Concept Development and Copywriting | Replaced by ADV20005 - Creativity and Ideation. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2024. |
| ADV30001 | Advertising Media Planning and Purchasing | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2025. |
| ADV30002 | Advertising Management and Campaigns Project | Replaced by ADV30005 - Advertising Campaigns Project. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 1, 2025. |
| COM30002 | Professional Practice: Client and Agency Management | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2025. |
| MDA20001 | Business of Media | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2025. |
| MDA20011 | Sports/Advertising/Media | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2025. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| LIT20002 | Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity | Title change to Diversity in Australian Writing. |
| PWR10004 | Writing Short Non-Fiction | Last offering of this unit is Semester 2, 2023. |
| PWR20003 | Writing Creative Non Fiction | Last offering of this unit is Semester 2, 2025. |
| PWR20002 | Editing Techniques | Title change to Writing and Publishing Studio. |
| PWR30001 | Editing for Publication | Title change to Pitch, edit, publish. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| LIT20002 | Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity | Title change to Diversity in Australian Writing. |
| PWR10004 | Writing Short Non-Fiction | Last offering of this unit is Semester 2, 2023. |
| PWR20003 | Writing Creative Non Fiction | Last offering of this unit is Semester 2, 2025. |
| PWR20002 | Editing Techniques | Title change to Writing and Publishing Studio. |
| PWR30001 | Editing for Publication | Title change to Pitch, edit, publish. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| MDA10006 | Innovation Cultures: Perspectives on Science and Technology | Replaced by MDA10015 - Social Media Strategy. The current unit will be offered for the last time in Semester 2, 2023. |
| MDA20001 | Business of Media | Change of title to Business of Media and Entrepreneurship from Semester 1, 2025. Change of code to MDA20028, and offered in the Social Media major. |
| MDA20025 | National Media in A Globalised World | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2024. |
| MDA20014 | Media and Social Impact | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2025. |
| JOU20007 | Media Production | Title change to Interactive Storytelling from Semester 1, 2025. |
| JOU30009 | Video Project | Title change to Documentary Video Project from Semester 1, 2025. |
| MDA30018 | Media Futures | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2024. |
| Unit code | Unit name | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| DIG30003 | Advertising Technology | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2024. |
| DIG20005 | User Experience Design | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2024. |
| DIG20011 | Digital Mobility | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2024. |
| DIG30001 | Digital Marketing Project 1 | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2025. |
| DIG30002 | Digital Marketing Project 2 | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 2, 2025. |
| ICT10021 | Digital Content Management | Last offering of this unit is in Semester 1, 2023. |
| DDD10009 | Introduction to Digital Imaging | Continues to be offered in BA-SCRPRD1, BB-SPDAIN. |
First-year students
How does this affect me?
You can take this rare opportunity to switch to one of our innovative new majors from Semester 2 2023, regardless of whether your current major is undergoing structural changes.
If your major is being discontinued or merged with another, we recommend switching to a new major. If you choose not to switch, you will continue with your current major through a teach-out period. If you do not complete your units before their final teaching period, they will be replaced with new units.
Even if your major is not undergoing structural changes, you can switch to one of the new majors and start forging a new path.
If you’re studying a Professional degree, you will encounter changes at a unit level. Some core units will be replaced with updated core units.
What do I need to do now?
Book an appointment with our Enrolment Specialists, they will guide you through the process of switching to a major within the new course structure.
Make sure you do so before 31 May 2023 to give yourself the best chance of securing a spot.
You are not required to take any action if you wish to continue with your current major. Note that discontinued units will have their final offering between Semester 1 2024 and Semester 2 2025.
Second and third year students
What does this mean for me?
Your course will continue as planned. You may notice that some of the units in your study plan have new names. This simply indicates that these units have been updated. It’s also important to note that your units will be gradually phased out. Discontinued units will have their final offering between Semester 1 2024 and Semester 2 2025.
You can also switch into one of the new majors. If you do, however, there’s no guarantee all your units will be credited towards the new course, this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If units are credited, be mindful that second- and third-year units under the new structure will not commence immediately. In some cases, they will not be taught until 2026.
What do I need to do now?
You are not required to take any action. If you wish to discuss switching to one of the new majors, book an appointment with our Enrolment Specialists.
Need help?
If you have any questions about how these changes impact you or need help with planning your enrolment, please book an appointment with our Enrolment Specialists.